Fastener for shoestrings.



PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

' G. 0. ADAMS. FASTENER FOR SHOESTRINGS.

APPLIUATIOK FILED SEPTJZ, 1904.

w n. C V n I lying flat against the leather.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FASTENER FOR SHOESTRINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1905.

Application filed September 12, 1904. Serial No. 224,168.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GIDEON CHAsn ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVinthrop, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Shoestrings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to fasteners for shoestrings; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter shown and described.

The object of the invention is to provide a fastener adapted to be attached to shoes and adapted to hold the strings thereof either before or after they have been tied.

The fastener consists of a plate which is secured in the upper edge of the shoe between the outer leather and the lining by means of eyelets, which pass through the leather, plate, and lining and which maybe used for stringperforations. One plate is secured on each side of the tongue, and each plate is provided with a spring-clip, which passes through the leather and extends upwardly or in any other direction, as may be desired, and preferably Behind the said clips the string or bow may be secured and is held in place.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe provided with my string-fastening means. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the plate. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a section of a shoe-upper provided with the string-fastening means. Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view of the leather, plate, and lining cut on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The fastening means consists of the plate 1, which is provided with the perforations 2 2 and the spring-clip 3. Said clip may be of flat spring metal or of wire, and preferably is provided with an upper round end 4:. to prevent injury to the clothing or shoestrings. The plates 1 1 are located between the leather 5 and the lining 6 at the opposite corners of the upper edge of the shoe, one on each side of the tongue-slit. The plates 1 are held in position by means of the eyelets 7, which pass through the leather 5, perforations 2 2 of the plates, and lining 6 of the shoe. Said eyelets, in addition to performing the function of fastening means for the said plates, may also be used as string-perforations. as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The string is inserted inthe string-eyelets in the usual manner, and when the ends of the string are intended to be held untied they are inserted behind the clips 3 3 in a manner as shown in Fig. 3. hen the bow is tied in the string, the ends of the bow may be inserted behind the clips 3 in a manner as shown in Fig.1.

Aside from the advantages possessed by this invention as a means for securing the string ends to a bow, the plates 1 1 being located at the corners of the upper edge of the shoe and each plate having two eyelets, there is no chance for the leather to buckle between each set of eyelets, and when the string is tightened the upper edges of the shoe are drawn squarely together.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the spring-clips are secured at their lower ends and extend vertically'along the material constituting the shoe. It is obvious that the said clips may extend horizontally or in any other direction without departing from the spirit of my invention.

This securing means for lacing may also be used to advantage on other articles besides shoes.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with a shoe a shoestring-fastener consisting of a plate adapted to be attached to the rear side of the material constituting the upper of the shoe, a means for fastening said plate in such position, a springclip attached at its lower end to said plate, then extending through the material constituting the upper of the shoe and extending up along said material and having its outer end free and in an elevated position, with relation to its end attached to the plate, the clip being so arranged that the shoestring may be pressed between said clip and the material constituting the shoe-upper.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GIDEON CHASE ADAMS.

Witnesses:

LEWIS SELBING, WM. T. J ONES. 

